Modern Family - "Bicycle Thief" Promotional Pics

Here are some promotional pics for "Bicycle Thief" which airs on Sept. 30, 2009.  Just by looking at the pictures, I'm so eager to see the episode itself.  =)

[Photo: ABC]

 

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Latest from TV Guide's Fall TV Premiere

[Photo: ABC]

I'm excited right now, because tonight is the start of Modern Family.  I'm so anxious to see the next episodes to come.  When you've seen the Pilot episode, come back and tell me what do you think about the show?  TV Guide shares with us their thoughts:


Modern Family
9/8c ABC
"Family. Redefined." That's an old tagline for The Sopranos, but TV familial units have been evolving since the beginning, and this new comedy is living proof. Shot mockumentary-style, the series follows the unusual kinship of the Pritchett clan, led by patriarch Jay (Ed O'Neill), whose much younger wife (Sofía Vergara) has a son of her own. Revealing more would spoil the fun of peeling back the layers one at a time, and the undercurrent of warmth at work here makes it one of the season's most promising sitcoms. — Joe Friedrich

(Source: TV Guide)


See the full story here.

Modern Family - Episode 1.02 - "The Bicycle Thief" Press Release

[Photo: ABC]

Modern Family - Episode 1.02 - The Bicycle Thief - Press Release

MODERN FAMILY [EPISODE CHANGE]
Air Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Time Slot: 9:00 PM-9:30 PM EST on ABC
Episode Title: (#1ARG02) "The Bicycle Thief"

[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

BEING A GOOD DAD CAN TAKE VARIOUS FORMS, ON ABC'S "MODERN FAMILY"

"The Bicycle Thief" Phil is determined to help Luke prove to mom that he is responsible enough to have the brand new bike they just got him. However Phil ends up being the irresponsible one when a hot neighbor clouds his judgment. Meanwhile Mitchell and Cameron take Lily to their first Mommy & Me class, and Jay and Manny have some awkward father and son time, on "Modern Family," WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Nore: This episode replaces "Coal Digger."

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sofa Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy and Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado.

Guest cast include Krista Allen as Desiree, Davis Mikaels as Anton, Alex Staggs as Scott, Julia Lehman as Danielle, Kofi Natei as Bike Salesman, Lindsey Stoddard as Helen and Shemari Berkley as kid.

"The Bicycle Thief" was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Jason Winer.

"Modern Family" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's Selected HD Format, with 5.1 channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

For more information on "Modern Family" please visit ABC.com.

(Source: The Futon Critic)

Modern Family Starts Tonight on ABC

Finally, we will all be hooked up on one show that we can see ourselves in.  Even USA TODAY will be following the Modern Family on ABC.  Here is an article bye Robert Bianco:

Finally, ABC gives us a 'Modern Family' we can relate to
By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY
It's about time.

After years in the comedy wilderness, much of it spent in a futile attempt to clone NBC's snarkier, more ironic sitcom style, ABC is finally returning to its family roots — and in gloriously funny fashion. You get The Middle next week and Cougar Town later tonight, both terrific sitcoms. But the best of the bunch, and the best new series of the fall, comes first.

CALENDAR: In-depth look at the fall TV schedule

Modern Family, created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, smartly updates ABC's Home Improvement/Roseanne tradition for a new TV generation. True, the shooting style borrows the faux-documentary approach made popular by a rival, The Office. But the down-to-earth tone of this good-natured comedy, and its bighearted embrace of its characters, harks back to ABC and Disney at their comedy peak.

Times, however, have changed, and families have changed with them. The show does pivot on a sitcom-familiar home mix, a mom and dad (Julie Bowen and Ty Burell) who take a comedically different approach to raising their two kids. But Mom has an extended family, and they're the "modern" part of the title: Her father (Ed O'Neill) has just married a hot young single mother from Colombia (Sofia Vergara), and her brother (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his partner (Eric Stonestreet) have just adopted a Vietnamese baby girl.

That gives Modern Family a lot of territory to cover, but it also gives it a lot of room in which to play — and tonight's pilot takes full advantage of that gift. Each family member is treated with respect, but each is also tweaked and given some funny business to play, from O'Neill's sitcom-pro chagrin at his stepson's romantic notions, to Bowen and Burell's method of dealing with a misused BB gun, to Ferguson's flustered reactions to Stonestreet's flamboyance.

Like the best sitcoms, Modern Family also varies its comic approach. There are moments of wry observational humor any family will recognize. (When the sister offers to "explain" their father's comment, her brother says: "That's not what Dad's saying. That's what you're saying, and it's insulting in a whole different way.") But there are also outsized moments that are laugh-out-loud funny without violating the laws of possibility.

Mockumentaries can quickly become cold and distancing, and that's a pitfall Modern Family will have to work to avoid. But if it can fulfill its promise, it could just be the show ABC needs to spark a sitcom renaissance.

Time will provide the answer. But let's hope that answer is yes.

(Source: USA TODAY)

Modern Family: One of TV Bloggers' Fave

[Photo: ABC]

USA Weekend asked some TV bloggers for their top picks on What TV shows are worth watching.  Luckily,  Modern Family is one of the shows that add laughter and entertainment.

Modern Family (ABC, Sept. 23) "Hands down, this is my favorite new series so far," says Jace Lacob, writer/editor of "Televisionary." This mockumentary about three families "has a winning combination of quirkiness, witty banter and heart. It explores how the post-nuclear family ticks and how universal bonds of love and frustration keep it all together."

(Source: USA Weekend)

Here is the full story on USA Weekend.  Will you be watching?  Speak your mind!

Gloria and Claire, Both Tagged as Fall TV's Sexiest Stars

BuddyTV considered Sofia Vergara on the #3 spot and Julie Bowen as #14 of the top 50 sexiest new female stars this fall.  These hottest women of the Fall TV season are those who have a new role in either an existing show or new show. 

#3 Sofia Vergara[Photo: ABC]

Not only is Modern Family the best new comedy this fall season, but Sofia Vergara is the freshest face. As the young, sexy wife of Ed O'Neill (aka Al Bundy), Sofia brings humor and grace to this Fall's Wednesday nights. 

#14 Julie Bowen[Photo: ABC]

(Source: BuddyTV)

See the complete list of Fall's 50 Sexiest New Female Stars

Modern Family "Pilot" Review

I had the chance of watching the pilot weeks ago.  The reason why I made this site is because I just fell in love with the show.  And that doesn't happen very often.  I made this for all fans who want to be updated on what's happening with the show.  This about sums up my reaction and view on ABC's Modern Family.  Here is IGN TV's review.  I hope you do watch it tonight.

Modern Family: "Pilot" Review

ABC gets hilariously modern with this family comedy.

by Robert Canning

September 22, 2009 - Advance Review: ABC's Modern Family already has a ton of critical buzz going for it, and from my perspective, the series is the most talked about new comedy of the season. And after an advance viewing of the pilot, that all makes sense. The premiere takes a clever new look at some of your basic sitcom set-ups and the result is a lot of laugh-out-loud hilarity. Though the pilot does have its weaker moments, and it still needs a bit of definition with its format, Modern Family gives us a solid, very funny debut.

The pilot episode introduces us to three distinct family units. There's the overall traditional family, with a mom, a dad and three kids. Then there's the May-December couple, where the younger (very hot) wife has a tween-age son from a previous marriage. And finally there's the gay couple that have just recently adopted a baby. All three face their share of problems in the premiere episode, most of which are variations of issues that have come up in sitcoms for years: troublesome boyfriends, feeling old, family gatherings, etc. But Modern Family adds enough of a twist to the tried-and-true formulas to make these situations feel fresh and enough clever wit to make them funny.

The major "twist" given to this family sitcom formula is setting it up as a mockumentary, much like the very successful The Office. It's no surprise that this style would soon find its way into the family sitcom genre. As a pilot, there's little actual set up to the documentary angle. Things kick in early with on camera interviews tucked in between the daily lives of our families. There was some confusion for me as to whether the day-to-day activities were being documented, or just the interview segments. At first, I didn't think it was an exact match to the style of The Office, but then I noticed a few subtle glances directly to the camera. Very subtle, actually. The complete opposite of a Jim Halpert reaction shot. This all may become more clear in future episodes, or maybe it won't. In either case, the overall quality of the pilot was not greatly hindered by this one small issue.

The cast is stellar. Julie Bowen (Ed, Boston Legal) and Ty Burrell (Back to You) head the traditional household and both are strong. In the pilot, Burrell does have some weaker moments when he's playing up the "cool dad" clich?, but his hilarious, unforced scene with his son and a BB gun prove there's great potential for the character. Elsewhere, it's great to see Ed O'Neill back in action. His character Jay could be an older, slightly more toned-down version of Al from Married with Children, in a very good way. The lesser-known actors filling out the series are all expertly cast, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet as the lovingly bickering gay couple, and the young Rico Rodriquez as Jay's stepson. From the pilot alone, Rodriquez has proven he has the potential to steal any scene he's in.

The premiere episode does a fantastic job of introducing us to these family units, and it was fun to see how they would be connected to each other in the realm of the series. The smaller issues aside -- the mildly unclear format, some forced clichés -- the pilot episode of Modern Family is a must see comedy. And judging by stars already slated to guest star -- Edward Norton, Elizabeth Banks -- it appears there will be much to look forward to as the season continues.

Modern Family premieres Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 9pm ET/PT on ABC.

(Source: IGN TV)

Advance Review from Televisionary

Here is a review or a first look at Modern Family by Televisionary.   Catch the season's pilot episode of ABC's Modern Family tonight!

Pilot Inspektor: An Advance Review of ABC's "Modern Family"

Written by Jace on Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I have to say that ABC may have offered the most memorable upfront presentation in recent years, not because of the self-deprecation comedy stylings of Jimmy Kimmel but because they pulled off what many thought was impossible: they showed an entire pilot to advertisers and press. At the upfront itself.

Yesterday's upfront presentation, masterfully overseen by Anne Sweeney and Steve McPherson, led up to this groundbreaking moment by first showcasing the entire first act of its new drama series Flash Forward (a treat in itself) but then ABC went one step further by screening the full pilot episode of its new comedy Modern Family.

Modern Family, from creators/executive producers Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan (who most recently collaborated on FOX's short-lived comedy Back to You), tells the story of three very different families living in suburban America. Told in a mockumentary style that's clearly influenced by the work of director Christopher Guest, Modern Family seeks to shine a light on just how neurotic and idiosyncratic--and at the same time how reassuringly normal--every family is, no matter what its makeup.

This winning series follows the lives of three diverse families: there's Jay (Ed O'Neill), an older man who has taken a younger bride in Gloria (Sofía Vergara) and become a reluctant father to her idealistically romantic young son Manny (Rico Rodriguez). There's a traditional nuclear family, overseen by Phil (Ty Burrell), a dad who's far less cool than he believes himself to be, and Claire (Julie Bowen), a mom who struggles to keep her family moving in a straight line. Their kids, Haley (Sarah Hyland), Luke (Nolan Gould), and Alex (Ariel Winter) are a motley bunch, prone to getting their heads stuck in banisters and accidentally shooting one another with BB pellets. (In the pilot episode, 15-year-old daughter Haley brings home a high school senior and chaos--and painful hilarity--ensues.) Finally, there's gay couple Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and the doughy Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) who return from Vietnam with an adopted baby daughter Lily in tow.

I have to say that I was completely captivated by the pilot episode, directed by Jason Winer, which offered a nice blend of character introduction, comedic timing, and a nice twist ending that neatly ties the action together.

The cast is a real treat, with each of the actors perfectly cast in their roles. The role of Cameron could have been a stereotypical gay role but Stonestreet plays it (no pun intended) straight, offering a performance that's as naturalistic as it is nuanced, even as Cameron retains his sense of a dramatic entrance. (Cue the soundtrack to The Lion King.) The same holds for the talented Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who gives Mitchell an uptight, severe personality that's at odds with the messiness of real life he's about to encounter as a new parent; yet Ferguson's Mitchell never comes off as unlikable, despite a rant on an airplane about cream puffs. Sofia Vergara is hilarious as the sexy Gloria, who tosses off random facts about her past life and previous husband without filtering herself. Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen are welcome additions to any cast and they are well balanced as a married couple whose mission in life seems to be raising their kids so that they don't get pregnant or shoot anyone. (Seeing Burrell's solution to son Luke's inadvertent shooting of his sister is hilarious.) Additionally, it's fantastic as well to see the curmudgeonly Ed O'Neill back as a series regular; here, his gruff demeanor and caustic comments belie a, well, gruff interior as well.

Unlike NBC's Parks and Recreation, which doesn't quite know how to use the mockumentary format to its advantage, Levitan and Lloyd employ the usual tricks of the trade: hand-held cameras, talking heads, etc. but they use them significantly better here than the writer/producers of Parks and Recreation. As it's the pilot installment, the talking heads--in which the couples are paired together, talking about themselves and their families--serve to introduce the characters and explore their relationships, but the reveals are always based in humor and never feel overtly expositional. (One rather humorous example: Gloria recounts the small village that she hails from, turning to her husband to remind her how to say in English what her town was number one in. "Murders," he says succinctly. "Ah, yes, the murders," purrs Gloria, who later recounts how she and her former husband fell out of a window while making love.)

Modern Family is one part of ABC's new comedy strategy on Wednesday evenings, where it will launch a two-hour block of half-hours that also includes fellow family comedies Hank and The Middle, which separately boast Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, both of whom worked with Levitan and Lloyd on Back to You. Despite the marquee names of Modern Family's lead-in series, I can't help but root for Modern Family after falling for this series' winning combination of biting wit, subtle humor, and heart. Ultimately, this is one family I'm more than happy to spend time with each week.

(Source: Televisionary)

Sofia Vergara, the Latina Wife

[Photo: ABC]

Sofia Verga talks about her role as Ed O'Neills wife in the new comedy series, Modern Family. 

One of the fall's best new comedies, ABC's Modern Family uses the mockumentary format to follow the lives of three different family structures. Sofia Vergara stars in the series as Gloria, who is married to Jay (Ed O'Neill), a man old enough to get mistaken for her father. Jay's own children are adults, but he now must contend with helping raise Gloria's young son (Rico Rodriguez)– and keeping up with a wife with a lot more energy than he has.

I recently spoke to Vergara about Modern Family and what it's like playing the wife of the former Al Bundy.

IGN: I'm guessing you never watched Married with Children and thought, "One day I'm going to play that guy's wife!"

Vergara: No, are you kidding me? I saw that show a lot in Colombia. It was great; it was one of our favorites. But I never, never thought "I'll play his wife!" [Laughs]

IGN: This seems like an unlikely relationship on the surface. What do you think it is that drew these two together?

Vergara: Well, I think she was coming out from a very difficult relationship with the ex-husband. He wasn't responsible, he was like a playboy doing all kinds of crazy things and not being responsible with the kid. And then to meet this guy that is completely the opposite… I think that's why she loves him, because he's so different. He's giving her all that she never had with the other guy.

IGN: TV Critics can be a very tough crowd, to say the least, but it's clear most of us love your show.

Vergara: Thank you! I'm so happy, because I've already done three [series], so I'm hoping this one is the last one! [Laughs]

IGN: When you shot the pilot, did you feel like the cast and chemistry was all really clicking in?

Vergara: I think you never know how it's going to be until the end when they send you the DVD and you see the whole thing put together. For me, I knew the script was funny, but when I saw it, I was completely surprised how the idea of the show [came together]. Because at the beginning, I didn't understand that well about the mockumentary, but then when I saw it, it made sense.

IGN: I was trying to get my head around your character's son and how thanks to the marriage, he would be an uncle of sorts to Ed's character's grandkids, even if they're older than him.

Vergara: And that makes me a grandmother, too! I don't know how they're going to play that, but I'm sure that's part of the whole funny situation. It's going to be different. And also that it's very real – there are families like that nowadays. Even me, my son is 18 years old. It happens! Weird things happen.

IGN: As a mom, can you relate to how protective your character is, such as in the soccer scene in the pilot, when she's yelling at other parents?

Vergara: Yeah, definitely. She's very Latin. I totally love the role, because it's so easy for me to play her. She's like how most of us Latin women are. Of course it's a comedy, so I exaggerate a little bit, but we have that essence that she has – protective and very fiery and fun.

IGN: How is it working with Ed?

Vergara: We work great together, because we both don't like to work. [Laughs] We're both like, "Okay, let's do it one more time and that's it."
 
IGN: I imagine it must be very different as an actor doing the mockumentary interview scenes.
 
Vergara: Yes, but it's fun, because you get to do mistakes, and they work! It even makes it more real. It is different. I've never done something like that.


(Source: IGN TV)

Modern Family : Fall TVs New Hits

This video is from TV Guide.  Modern Family is one of the coolest, most hilarious TV event that starts tonight on ABC. 

(Source: TV Guide)

How Modern is Modern Family?

[Photo: ET Online]

Modern Family gives us a glimpse of reality and uniqueness in protraying what "modern" is from a family's point of view.  It makes us laugh instead of adding drama and gloom to life's family issues.  You will just enjoy from watching the spontaneous, free-flowing comedy  antics of all the characters at play.  From ET Online's interview of Ed O'Neill about the most talked about new comedy series, Modern Family.  Premiere is tonight on ABC!

Meet Ed O'Neill's 'Modern Family'!

ET is first on the set of the highly anticipated new ABC comedy "Modern Family" and stars Ed O'Neill, Julie Bowen, and their cast mates dish to us about some of the laughs and surprises in store for viewers.

"I just love the writing," says Ed, who famously played Al Bundy on "Married with Children." "The whole cast is hilarious," he continues, adding, "I'm enjoying just watching them."

"If you have a family, you're going to see something that you relate to," says his co-star Julie.

Click this video to watch Ed on the set of Modern Family.

(Source: ETOnline)

Modern Family - Episode 1.02 - "Coal Digger" Press Release

With 2 days to go before the Pilot Premiere, here is the official press release of Modern Family's Episode 2 on Wednesday Sept. 30 on ABC.
 

Modern Family - Episode 1.02 - Coal Digger - Press Release

A NICE FAMILY BARBEQUE GETS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN A LITTLE TOO MUCH IS SAID, ON ABC'S "MODERN FAMILY"

"Coal Digger" - The whole family is invited to Jay and Gloria's for some barbeque and football. However an earlier incident at school between Manny and Luke makes things very awkward for Gloria and Claire, and then things escalate when a not-so-flattering label is uttered, on "Modern Family," WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sof’a Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy and Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado.

Guest cast include Andrew Borba as Mr. Balaban.

"Coal Digger" was written by Christopher Lloyd and directed by Jason Winer.

(Source: ABC)

ABC Start Now - Show Preview

ABC Start Now shows a preview of what's to come on ABC primetime. It includes Modern Family which is one of the most talked about and most awaited comedy show in the fall premiere.

Modern Family - Episode 1.01 - "Pilot" Press Release

[Photo: ABC]

Here is the official press release of Modern Family's Pilot episode on Wednesday Sept. 23 on ABC.

Modern Family - Episode 1.01 - Pilot - Press Release

GET READY TO SEE FAMILY IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT IN THE MUCH-BUZZED ABOUT NEW COMEDY, "MODERN FAMILY," PREMIERING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23 ON ABC

Ed O'Neill ("Married... with Children") and Julie Bowen ("Boston Legal")

Star Alongside a Talented Ensemble Cast

"Modern Family," a new half-hour comedy that takes an honest and often hilarious look at the complexities of modern day families, premieres WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (This program will repeat Friday, Sept. 25, from 9:00-9:30 p.m.)

"Pilot" -- Today's families come in all shapes and sizes, and that is very evident in Jay Pritchett's very full and very blended family. Jay and his new gorgeous and much younger wife, Gloria, are happily married and getting accustomed to their new life together. But when her pre-teen son develops a crush on a 16-year-old girl, it becomes apparent that Jay and Gloria may have some generational and cultural gaps to bridge. Jay's grown daughter, Claire, has a family of her own -- three kids and a husband, Phil, who is practically a giant kid himself. Things get a little tense when their teenage daughter, Haley, brings a boy home and Phil tries to adopt the cool, hip dad approach. Then son Luke misuses of his BB gun, which results in Phil and Claire turning it right back on to him. Jay's other grown son, Mitchell, is in a committed relationship and has just adopted a baby girl from Vietnam with his life partner, Cameron. They're going through the joys and anxieties of bringing a baby home for the first time, but Mitchell still has the daunting task of introducing their new addition to the whole family.

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sof’a Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy and Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado.

Guest cast include Reid Ewing as Dylan, Hayley Erin as Brenda Feldman, Lillian Adams as passenger #1, Duane Shepard Sr. as passenger #2, Heather Lee as passenger #3, Jenica Bergere as soccer mom, Matt Corboy as Josh, aka soccer dad, and Marcus Brown as security guard.

"Pilot" was written by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, and directed by Jason Winer.

(Source: ABC)

On Edward Norton and Shelley Long

TV Guide Magazine caught Julie Bowen at the PaleyFest Fall Preview Party for ABC.  She shared how Edward Norton got into guesting on the show.  She also said that Shelley Long will play her mother and her role will be recurring, which is good news for everyone.  Long is an award-winning actress for a comedy show in Cheers during the 80's.  Read on for the full story. 


Modern Family has already received rave reviews from TV critics, but the raves that have made the cast and crew of the ABC sitcom happiest are those of Edward Norton. In fact, the Oscar nominated actor was so excited about the pilot that he agreed to guest star on the show. “Edward Norton is a friend of Ty [Burrell]’s and he apparently really, really loves the pilot, so we said ‘Well, if you love it so much, come and do an episode’ – and he was on board,” executive producer Steven Levitan told TV Guide Magazine at the PaleyFest Fall Preview Party for ABC on September 15. 

Norton will play the anniversary present gone wrong in an episode where Julie Bowen’s character, Claire, tries impress her husband. “Julie Bowen’s character is really bad at giving gifts. It’s her and Phil’s anniversary, so he gives her these amazing gifts and her gift is just terrible, so she feels the need to outdo him,” says Levitan. “She brings in what she thinks is the lead guitarist and the lead vocalist from a famous band, but it turns out to be the bass player and all he can do is play bass lines. And he’s got a chip on his shoulder.”

Also joining the Modern Family for a guest stint is Shelley Long as the matriarch of the wacky clan. “She’s a woman, like her daughter played by me, who perhaps likes a party a little too much and is trying to clean up a few messes she’s made in the past,” Julie Bowen tells us.

“She’s supposed to be playing this fragile woman who is barely hanging on and Shelley plays that really beautifully. It’s different than other characters that I’ve seen her play,” adds Ty Burrell who plays Phil. “She does it wonderfully. I felt like I was learning a lot watching her.”

And Bowen tells us the Long’s role could be recurring. “We just did one episode with her, but I’m sure she’ll be back.”

(Source: TV Guide Magazine)

PaleyFest's Fall TV Preview 2009: Modern Family

TV Guide Magazine takes you onto the red carpet for the second day of PaleyFest's Fall TV Preview 2009. Watch the short interview below:

Guide to the Pilot Episode of Modern Family

[Photo: ABC]

Here is TV Fanatic's Modern Family Pilot Episode Guide :

We meet Jay, an older grandfather that recently re-married a much younger wife, Gloria.  Along with Gloria comes her son, Manny.  Jay starts to feel too old when he's mistaken for Gloria's father at one of Manny's soccer games by one of the other dads.  Jay decides to head to the mall to start dressing hipper, while Manny decides he's going to romance a much older employee.  Though Jay tries to stop poor Manny from embarassing himself, he goes for it anyway and Gloria tells him he has to start encouraging him more.

Meanwhile, Claire and Phil are struggling with parenting their kids as well.  Phil is trying so hard to be the kids' friends rather than a parent that when Luke ends up shooting his sister with a BB gun, Phil is not disciplining him to Claire's liking.  Claire is busy parenting Haley, their oldest teenage daughter, who's busy having a study date with a much older boy.

The real focus of the epiosde is Mitchell and Cameron who fly off to retrieve their daughter, Lily, they've adopted from Vietnam.  Mitchell grabs his sister, Claire, and his father, Jay, to announce the latest member to this Modern Family.

(Source: TV Fanatic)

Edward Norton in Modern Family

 [Photo: TV Guide]

Here is POP Tower's insider scoop on Edward Norton's guest appearance on Modern Family:

The Oscar nominated actor will play a famous musician on an upcoming episode of the new ABC comedy, starring Ed O'Neill, alongside fellow guest star Elizabeth Banks.

Two-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Edward Norton ("Primal Fear," "The Incredible Hulk") will guest star in an upcoming episode of "Modern Family." Norton will play Izzy LaFontaine, a "famous" musician who is hired by Claire as a surprise anniversary gift for Phil. Elizabeth Banks ("Seabiscuit," "Zack and Miri Make a Porno") will also guest star in the same episode as Mitchell and Cameron's best girlfriend, Sal.

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sofa Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy and Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television in association with Levitan Lloyd Productions. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are executive producers/creators. Jason Winer serves as co-executive producer on the series.

"Modern Family" premieres on September 23 and airs Wednesdays from 9:00-9:30 p.m., ET on ABC.

(Source: POP Tower)

Shelley Long in Modern Family

[Photo: TV Fanatic]

I too have seen the pilot episode of Modern Family.  It's very funny, entertaining, and worth watching on the 23rd.  Shelley Long will play the role of the mother of Julie Bowen (Claire).  Shelley of the series Cheers, won the 1983 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.  It's good to know that we will see her together with our favorite stars in Modern Family.  Here's TV Fanatic's article:



We've seen the pilot episode of Modern Family - and it's hilarious.

If possible, though, it looks like the ABC sitcom is about to get even funnier, as Shelley Long has joined the cast. She'll portray the ex-wife of family patriarch Jay (Ed O'Neill).

Long's character is named Dede Pritchett and executive producer Steven Levitan describes her as "a bit of a fragile person who is searching for herself in the world. She comes back to fix a problem that she left everybody with."

TV Guide Magazine reports that viewers will see Dede show up for ex's wedding to his new, young Columbian wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara). Added producer Christopher Lloyd:

"Everything was fine, until she had a couple drinks and made a big scene that ruined the wedding. Now she's back to make amends."




(Source: TV Fanatic)

Elizabeth Banks in Modern Family

[TV Fanatic]

A familiar face to guest star in Modern Family.  I can't wait to find out how she does her comic antics with Mitchell and Cameron!

 

Elizabeth Banks, who played JD's baby mama on Scrubs, is coming back to the small screen.

The movie star - best known for roles in The 40-Year Old Virgin, W and Zack and Miri Make A Porno - has signed on for a recurring role on ABC's upcoming fall sitcom, Modern Family.

The gorgeous, funny actress will portray Sal, a character described by executive producer Christopher Lloyd as "the fag hag" friend of gay couple Mitchell and Cameron.

"Sal is their old running buddy," executive producer Steven Levitan said. "Mitchell and Cameron decide they need a night out on the town, so they call her up."

Look for Banks to debut on the show in October.

(Source: TV Fanatic)

Modern Family Pics and Quotes From The Pilot Episode

Here are some of the pictures and quotes from the pilot episode of Modern Family which will premiere on Sept. 23 on ABC.  As TV Fanatic said, the show is really hilarious and wonderful.  You should see it and I guarantee that you will love it!

[Photo: ABC]

  [Photo: ABC]

  [Photo: ABC]

Modern Family premieres on ABC on September 23 and let us tell you, this show is fantastic.  We were lucky enough to have already seen the pilot and we can tell you we're already hooked.

In the pilot, we're introduced to the family which consists of Jay and his younger wife, his daughter Claire and her husband and kids, and his son Mitchell and his life partner Cameron and newly adopted baby.

  [Photo: ABC]

What makes this show work so well is that each of the three families has its own unique dynamic and fantastic characters.  We can't wait to see where this show plans on going.

Here's just some of our favorite Modern Family quotes from the pilot.

Phil: I'm cool dad, that's my thang. I'm hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face 

Claire: If Haley never wakes up on a beach in Florida half-naked, I've done my job

Cameron: Yes, I've gained a few extra pounds while we were expecting the baby... but that's science. You can't fight it. 

[Photo: ABC]

(Source: TV Fanatic)

Modern Family is One of TV Guide's Picks

[Photo: ABC.com]

Modern Family is one of eight Fall TV Premiere shows chosen by TVGuide.com's editors.


Modern Family (ABC)
 
America is sorely in need of a new laugh-out-loud comedy, and we think Modern Family is it. Ed O'Neill (Married... with Children), Julie Bowen (Ed) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (The Class) headline a top-notch cast delivering a fresh take on the multigenerational family comedy. Our favorite moment from the pilot is scored by the Lion King theme.
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9/8c

Full story from Mickey O'Connor at TV Guide.

Cast of Modern Family

POP Tower shows us the characters inside Modern Family.  What is good about Modern Family is that it depicts somehow a picture of our own families or the family that we always want to belong with.  And I think it is the reason why many are going to watch Modern Family on Sept. 23.



ABC's comedy "Modern Family" takes a bird's eye view of today's American families which come in all shapes and sizes. The cookie cutter mold of man + wife + 2.5 kids is a thing of the past, as it becomes quickly apparent in "Modern Family," which takes an honest and often hilarious look at the composition and complexity of family life in 2009.

Take for example Phil and Claire, two parents who want to have that open, healthy, honest relationship with their three kids on ABC's "Modern Family." It's not always easy, especially when you have a teenage daughter who's growing up a little fast, a too-smart-for-her-own-good middle daughter and a rambunctious boy. On top of that, Phil wants to be the "cool dad," while Claire is just trying her best to run a tight ship on "Modern Family," determined not to let her kids have the rebellious childhood she had.
Then there's Jay, a true guys' guy who is having a bit of mid-life crisis on "Modern Family." Jay has found a much younger wife, Gloria, who has become the center of his world. She's a passionate and sassy divorcee who comes with an 11-year-old son, Manny. Already taking notice of girls and a hopeless romantic, Manny is as passionate as his mom and spends his time daydreaming and writing poetry on "Modern Family." His new step-father isn't altogether comfortable with the sensitive stuff and would like to toughen Manny up. But that's only one of Jay's challenges on "Modern Family." The biggest is that people often mistake him for Gloria's father, not her husband.

And lastly there's Mitchell and his partner of five years, Cameron. They've just taken that amazing "next step" by adopting a child together from Vietnam. Cameron has a wonderfully big personality and maybe a flare for the dramatic, whereas Mitchell is the more serious of the two on "Modern Family." But they balance each other out and are already doting fathers.

Life, it seems, is neither tidy nor politically correct. Yet that's just what makes it fun and interesting in this window into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted embrace of three modern families.

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ty Burrell as Phil, Sofía Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Nolan Gould as Luke, Ariel Winter as Alex and Rico Rodriguez as Manny.

"Modern Family" is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television in association with Levitan Lloyd Productions. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are executive producers/creators. The pilot for "Modern Family" was directed by Jason Winer, who also serves as co-executive producer on the series.


(Source: POP Tower)

A Twist in the Ending of Modern Family

 

[Photo: ABC.com]

The three families are related after all!  Read on for the full story.

'Modern Family' marketing to reveal twist

The producers of ABC's deeply funny "Modern Family" said the network is taking a new approach to the pilot's twist ending (spoiler coming up).

The big reveal at the end of the first episode is the three wildly different couples introduced mockumentary style throughout the episode are actually part of the same family. At press tour, a critic asks the "Modern Family" producers why they've been banned from revealing the ending since viewers are going to know after the pilot airs anyway.

"We kept finding people who watched the pilot -- even writers who were cynical people -- they would be genuinely surprised at that moment," said executive producer Steve Levitan. "But apparently what ABC has discovered is one of the strengths of the show is that they're part of the same family."

So instead of trying to play it coy, ABC is going to market the show as what it is, not just what it initially appears to be.

(Source: The Live Feed)

Modern Family Spoiler Videos

Spoiler videos.  (Source: ABC.com)

Meet Cameron and Mitchell =)

Phil and Claire =)

Jay and Gloria =)

Don't you just love them?  I do! =)

Evolution of the Title Modern Family

[Photo: ABC.com]

Did you know that since August 2008, they were already conceptualizing this show?  Before the end of 2008, this show was called  An American Family.  March 2009, they changed the name of the show to My American Family.  Then it was officially named as Modern Family last May.  What do you think about this?  Which of these three titles would you prefer?  Break your silence, now. 


(Source: The Futon Critic)

The Production

 

[Photo: ABC.com]

Modern Family is a half-hour series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan will have its first episode on ABC on September 23, 2009.  After screening the pilot episode, Modern Family tested high with various focus groups.  This lead to the ordering of 13 episodes adding to the 2009-2010 fall schedule of ABC.  For the upcoming fall shows, Modern Family is one of the critics' favorites.

See LA Times for the full story of Modern Family's early pick up by ABC.